The Society of Air Force Nurses was established in 1986 as a 501(c)(19) non-profit veterans’ organization. SAFN welcomes all commissioned USAF nurses who currently serve, are retired, or have separated from Active Duty, the Reserves, or the Guard. We also welcome US Army Air Corps WWII flight nurses. Sadly, we have lost most of the 500 flight nurses who served during WWII.
This is my third term as Director of the ECR. My first was 2013-2015, but I had to resign after my husband, Ehsan, started having health problems. Many thanks to my predecessor, Diana Kupchella, who served for the next eight years (2015-2023). I ran again in 2023 after my husband passed away.
I served on active duty for 24 exciting years. When I took my oath of office in 1981, I was honored to have the oath administered to me by the 7th Chief of the USAF Nurse Corps, Brig Gen Sarah P. Wells. My first assignment was the obstetrical unit at Scott AFB Medical Center. After attending flight school, I was assigned to the 57th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Scott (one of the highlights of my career). From Maxwell AFB, I was granted an AFIT assignment to the University of Texas (Austin) for a Masters in Maternal-Child Health. My follow-on was Andrews AFB, then Langley AFB, at which time I was given the opportunity to move back to D.C. to serve as Executive Officer to the 10th Chief of the Nurse Corps, Brig Gen Linda Stierle (another highlight of my career). After her retirement from Bolling AFB, I moved down the hall to serve as Chief of Credentialing & Privileging Policy for the AF Medical Service. My last assignment was Assistant Director/Director of Test and Evaluation at CITPO (Clinical Information Technology Program Office) in Falls Church, Virginia.
I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in January 2005 and was honored to have Brig Gen Linda Stierle preside at my ceremony held at the Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial now known as the Military Women’s Memorial located at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.
As of October 2025, the ECR had 152 members who reside in the District of Columbia or in one of nine states: DC (3), Delaware (5), Indiana (10), Kentucky (4), Maryland (17), Michigan (9), Ohio (34), Tennessee (14), Virginia (51), and West Virginia (5).
We currently have one Chapter, the National Capital Chapter (NCC), which is very active in honoring our fallen comrades buried at Arlington. We meet twice a year (the first Sunday in May during Nurses Week) and again in December (the Sunday after over 30,000 volunteers participating in “Wreaths Across America Day” place over 260,000 wreaths at every headstone and niche column throughout Arlington). It is an awesome sight! In December 2025, we placed 30 wreaths in Section 21 (the Nurses’ Section) and 239 hand-made tributes in an additional 50+ sections throughout Arlington.
Members of the NCC also attend funerals for nurses or their immediate family members. Upon request of the family, we perform the Nightingale Tribute Ceremony and place white flowers on the casket or next to the urn to show our respect for their service. Our National Memorial Chair, Linda Stierle, sends out monthly memorial information to all SAFN members giving them a chance to join us in honoring them at that time. She can be reached via email at memorialchair@safn.com. Contact information for our Regional Memorial Representative, Lynn Money, can be found in the Directory of Members which is located via our ‘Members Only’ page.
SAFN also has a National Outreach Committee. The purpose of which is to support those members who request assistance during times of physical or emotional stress. Our National Outreach Chair, Sally Glover, sends out a monthly report to members so that we can send cards or call them to offer our services. Sally can be reached via email at (outreachchair@safn.org). Contact information for our Regional Outreach Representative, Jean Burnett, can be found in the Directory of Members which is also located via our ‘Members Only’ page.
In October 2025, SAFN held its 20th Biennial Reunion in Providence, Rhode Island. Sixteen ECR members attended, representing seven of our nine states. It was good to greet our new members and to reconnect with friends to share memories, current events, and future plans. After the reunion, many of us boarded the “Norwegian Gem” for a seven-day “Fall Colors” cruise out of Boston to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada, returning to Boston via Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine.
Our 21st Biennial Reunion will be held in Rapid City, South Dakota, the last week of September 2027. Check the “Reunions” tab on the SAFN website for actual dates. One of the tours is a visit to Mount Rushmore. Come join us!
Stay tuned for info about a possible ECR reunion in 2026. NOTE: Any regional meeting held in 2026 is open to all SAFN members. See the other six regions’ plans via the “Regional Info” tab dropdown.
Membership is $25 annually. Renewals are due by 31 January, regardless of the month joined. With membership, you’ll receive a welcome packet from our National Membership Chair, Cheryl Greentree, containing the latest Directory of Members; a copy of our Spring or Fall newsletter, the Rendezvous, which is chock full of photos and member news; as well as a SAFN lapel pin. Cheryl will notify me when a new member has joined our East Central Region family. I look forward to getting to know you. Please see additional membership information at https://www.safn.org/membership-info.
Feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions or comments: EastCentralDirector@safn.org.
Take care!
Sharon R. Ahrari, Lt Col, USAF NC (Retired)
Director, SAFN East Central Region
Still Caring…Still Sharing…Always Remembering
